Lea Michele: Listening to Monteith Ballad is 'Therapeutic and Difficult'

In an interview with Billboard today, Glee star Lea Michele shared that listening to the ballad 'If You Say So,' a tribute to her TV co-star and boyfriend Cory Monteith is both 'theapeutic and difficult'.

"I have to acknowledge what I've been through this year," Michele told Billboard of the playlist to her debut album 'Louder'. "It was really difficult, which I think is represented in 'If You Say So' and a song like 'Cannonball' represents finding strength and hope. These are the two sides of my life right now. The grief, but also the search for strength and hope. I really wanted those two songs to bookend the album. Really let everyone know where I'm at."

Speaking on the LP's final track, 'If You Say So,' Michele commented, "Listening to it, it's therapeutic and difficult. It will always represent the most devastating thing that's every happened to me in my whole life."

Michele made her Broadway debut in 1995 as a replacement for the role of Young Cosette in the original New York production of LES MISERABLES. Following her theatrical debut in LES MISERABLES, Michele was cast in the role of Tateh's daughter, the Little Girl, in the 1998 original Broadway cast of Ragtime and in 2004, Michele portrayed "Shprintze" and "Chava" in the Broadway revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Michele originated the role of Wendla in Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical version of Spring Awakening on Broadway in 2006. Michele was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in Spring Awakening in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

In early 2009, Michele won the role of Rachel Berry on the FOX television SMASH hit, Glee (2009) and since the show's premiere on May 19, 2009, Michele has since received worldwide critical and public acclaim for her performance on the show.